Naji Marshall is an American professional basketball player who plays as a small forward for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. Born on January 24, 1998, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Marshall stands 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds.
Early Life and Education
Marshall moved to Maryland at the age of nine. He attended Takoma Academy in Takoma Park, Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, and Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, to improve his academics. In his senior year at Eleanor Roosevelt, he averaged 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game, leading the team to a 23–3 record.
College Career
Marshall played college basketball for the Xavier Musketeers from 2017 to 2020. Over his three-year tenure, he averaged 12.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He earned First-team All-Big East honors in 2020 and was named to the Second-team All-Big East in 2019.
Professional Career
After going undrafted in 2020, Marshall signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. He debuted in the NBA on January 15, 2021, against the Los Angeles Lakers. Over four seasons with the Pelicans, he played in 230 regular-season games, averaging 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
In July 2024, Marshall signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. During the 2024–2025 season, he is averaging 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 50.2%.
Controversies
On December 28, 2024, Marshall was involved in a physical altercation during a game against the Phoenix Suns. The incident began with a foul by Suns center Jusuf Nurkic, leading to a scuffle where Marshall punched Nurkic, and teammate P.J. Washington shoved Nurkic to the floor. All three players were ejected, and Marshall received a four-game suspension for his role in the altercation.